El-Aaraji: Iraq Pays No Transit Fees for Strait of Hormuz

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad El-Aaraji has rejected allegations that Iraq pays transit fees to use the Strait of Hormuz. El-Aaraji said the claims circulating in media reports are entirely unfounded. He stressed that Iraq operates within the framework of international maritime rules and that all commercial shipping activities are conducted on a legal basis. The minister said Iraq continues maritime trade in accordance with its sovereignty rights and international agreements. The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and handles a significant portion of global oil shipments. No further details about the specific transit fee allegations or the vessels involved were immediately available.